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Women hit a glass ceiling in the newsroom Journalists talk about what has changed, and what has not BY CARRIE MACMILLAN REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

A haze of smoke hung over the newsroom at the Hartford Times in the 1970s in what journalist Jenifer Frank described as a "sea of men."

Frank, now editor of CT Mirror, didn't meet her first female editor until the Times folded in 1976 and she took a job at a newspaper in New Jersey.

More women have entered the field in the past 38 years. But in recent years, the number has remained stagnant. Women make up a mere 36 percent of newsroom staffs, a figure that hasn't changed in 15 years, according to the American Society of News Editors.

On Wednesday, Frank and six fellow female journalists discussed the issue in a panel organized by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women as part of the group's Women's Day at the Capitol celebration in Hartford. Called "Journalism & Gender," the talk focused on women who cover public policy and politics, two beats traditionally held by men. About 150 people attended the event, which is hosted annually by the commission, a state agency charged with monitoring policies and practices that affect Connecticut women.

"Twenty-seven percent of all bylines are by women. Women comprise just 14 percent of interviewees on talk shows," said Teresa Younger, executive director of the commission, citing data from the Washington, D.C.-based Women's Media Center. "But in Connecticut, we may have more female policy and political reporters than other states. I can say we have the best."

Still, more needs to be done to attract and retain women in the profession, Frank said.

"I'm privileged to be left standing when so many journalists, including many women, have lost their jobs," she said, adding that she took seven years off when she had children and lost her pension. "But we've plateaued and I think there is another level (for women) to get to."

Christine Stuart, owner and editor of CT News Junkie, also said she was grateful that she found a way to continue working in a field she loves. CTNewsJunkie.com features original reporting on state politics, public policy, courts and health

"Our industry is in distress," Stuart said. "Journalism jobs peaked at 56,400 in 2000 nationally. Now, there are 38,000 nationwide."

Lucy Nalpathanchil, a WNPR correspondent and host, recalled how she was the only woman among six reporters at her first full-time radio job in Buffalo, N.Y.

"And that was 2002," she said. "Since then, the two NPR affiliates have merged and there is one woman on the staff and it's 2014.

In 2013, 14 percent of general managers in radio were women, down from 19.3 percent in 2012, the Women's Media Center reported.

As for how they are treated, most of the panelists shared stories of inappropriate comments and gestures from superiors and sources in the field.

"I have had my hand grabbed by a boss, little things that say a lot," Frank said.

Angela Carter, producer for Digital First Media, said she builds relationships with sources in a different way than some of her male colleagues.

"They might chit-chat with the firefighters and smoke a cigar or grab a beer," Carter said. "I'm not going to smoke a cigar."

Yet there is a danger for women when it comes to building relationships, Stuart said

"Sometimes people feel too comfortable with you. I once had a local town official call me 'doll.' I had to say, 'Hang on, that's offensive and derogatory and you crossed a line,'" she said.

Nalpathanchil said she once dealt with a city councilman who liked to kiss her on the cheek.

"I became an expert at shoving my hand at him," she said.

Susan Haigh, political reporter and Connecticut statehouse reporter for The Associated Press, said she is uncomfortable when a woman is assigned a certain story because of her sex.

"I don't want to be thought of as a woman, but as a fair and honest reporter. And not all women are warm and fuzzy," Haigh said. "It ticks me off when someone says a person talked to me because I'm a woman and they felt more comfortable. Maybe it was because they trusted me or liked my personality."

A problem throughout the industry, said Molly Yanity, a journalism professor at Quinnipiac University and a former sportswriter, is allowing women to balance work and family life.

"After a woman is 35 years old, the lifestyle of a full-time journalist is not conducive to raising a family, especially if you are covering a beat like state government," said Yanity during a telephone interview. "At a time when newspapers are cutting back, you don't see them adding child care services or anything like that."

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